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Chapter 10: Chaos Abroad

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"Thank you," Moody hung up and hurried his pace, leaving the wheelhouse to inform the others. "Iceberg right ahead!" Moody yelled to his colleague, Murdoch.

"Hard a' starboard!" Murdoch ordered of the current man behind the wheel of the ship.
"Hard'a starboard. The helm is hard over, sir!" Moody explains furthermore, standing behind Hitchins.

Hitchins who was behind the wheel proceeded to turn the wheel opposite the iceberg, he hopes to avoid it for the sake of the passenger's safety.

Moody rushed to the engine telegraph on deck which was next door. He moved it with subtle struggle and eventually it stops at Full Speed Astern.
Hitchins continues on with the wheel, spinning it to the left fluidly and thoroughly frenetic.

Moody returns to the engine telegraph sender and now assures the workers have received the instructions.

Down with the engineers, they've successfully received the telegraph. Bell among them has been startled as he was currently dealing with his soup. "Full astern!" He shouted at his comrades alertly, pointing importantly in front of him.

Meanwhile, Hitchins was straining all his effort to turning the wheel left, all the sudden the wheel refused to cooperate.

The ship continues to sail towards the iceberg as Murdoch examines the icy enemy in their path. All the crew is working to slow down the ship in order to steer it out of the iceberg's way.

...
The iceberg fast approaching, Avery and Jack had no clue as they returned to Avery's stateroom.
Jack kissed Avery's cheek before she bid him goodnight and entered her stateroom, worried.

Worried that her parents might be there waiting for her with those stern expressions on their faces that never seem to go away. Avery had come to believe that those flinty stares of theirs had been carved carefully on their faces.

Avery fortified herself as she turned around and shut the door behind her. She almost ran back out after who she saw standing in the sitting room.

Cal.

"How'd you get in?" Avery questioned hastily. "The Secret Room sound familiar?" Cal countered callously. "How do you have knowledge of this?" Avery asked, stomping her foot, panicked. "This," Cal presented Avery's diary in her face as he approached her. "You jerk," she muttered, scathed by the information that wasn't meant to be known by others. Cal stepped once more before Avery grabbed her diary in her hands, darting to her bed.

"Are you going to scrawl about me next? Or how you and Jack haven't kissed since yesterday?" Cal mocked her mercilessly as he followed Avery to her bed.

Sitting on her bed, Avery discovered that her luggage had been picked through as well, the drawing of her nude was missing.

"Where is it? You thief!" Avery shrieked, tears rolled down her cheeks as she was frustrated and wanted to see her parents rather than someone who barges in someone else's personal life. "Oh, you mean this?" Cal reached into the pocket of his coat and retrieved Jack's drawing of Avery. He smirked while he eyed Avery laying on the couch in the sketch.

Avery looked up at Cal, disgusted. She grimaced as she began to repack her luggage, folding each article of clothing neatly. Cal approached the bed and Avery recoiled. "I'm sorry I did this, my love," he apologized caustically and glanced at Avery who foolishly blushed. "Y-you were curious," she shrugged dismissively. It was imminent that Avery seemed to forgive Cal. He was an alright guy and she could forget his intrusive style. Besides, she found him quite interesting and wondered if she should spend some time with him.

Avery found the silence unnerving as the two sat side by side. Avery placed her diary under the pillow of her bed to occupy herself. Cal stared into Avery's blue eyes, hypnotized. "What are you staring at?" Avery inquired, repulsed. "Your sky like eyes," Cal responded. As she realized he was leaning towards her, Avery slapped Cal's cheek with her ring bound hand and got up from the bed, flustered.

"Some nerve!" Avery shouted angrily as she stood there in the middle of the resting space of the Duran's stateroom, livid.

The ship soon collided with the iceberg, the impact causing the ship to shake. Avery lost her balance as the ship made contact with the obstacle in it's path. Cal glance over to her, baffled as he had no idea what the cause of this could be. Surely the crew would've prevented any kind of serious danger to the passengers and therefore this wouldn't've happened.

The iceberg sideswiped the side of the ship, causing a horrible buffet upon the ship. Immediately, Avery was rattled by this sudden occurrence and recklessly bursted into a run and exited her stateroom, Cal folded up the sketch of Avery and placed it in one of his coat's pockets. He too was worried what could've caused all this ruckus.

Avery and Cal zoomed through the hallway of the first class and soon headed up the stairs to the Open Deck where chaos has evidently began. Avery blinked, bewildered by the scene presented before her. She was alarmed by the monstrous iceberg now off to the side of the ship.

Turning to the right, she examined it closely and saw Jack was standing not too far with Rose by his side. Avery wasn't at all suspicious because she knew Rose was a loyal friend and was surprised they haven't socialized for most of the voyage. Who was Avery kidding? They hadn't at all socialized.

"What happened?" Avery shouted over the loud sounds of the iceberg crashing. "That!" Jack replied instantly, stepping away from Rose who was too shocked to  say anything. Jack pointed at the iceberg and Avery and Cal exchanged frightened glances.

In the steerage compartment, Avery and Jack's friend Fabrizio had woken to a diabolical shaking that interrupted a peaceful dream he was having which featured his hometown he seldom longed to return. He wasn't even sure travelling on the Titanic was the best for him but he boarded this ship with Jack, thinking that this could turn their lives around.

Disconcerted, Fabrizio propped himself up with his elbows, surrounded by the darkness and unusual sounds the ship gave off. He continued to hear strident noises possibly from pipes exploding. That can't be good. He thought meekly.

Indeed the pipes were bursting with fresh sea water, the walls of the ship collapsed from the pressure of water seeping from the other side.

In the midst of the collection of cars next to the Boiler Room, Arthur and Fauna are still scrounging around for Avery and the Mystery Man. "Check over there!" Arthur huffed out before the rush of consistent waves could be heard and tore through the walls of the room where they kept searching. Arthur and Fauna were swept with the current and they struggled to resurface.

"Get back!" Jack yelled loudly, grabbing Avery's arm while Cal grabbed Rose's. The four witnessed the iceberg scrape the side of the ship they were facing. Jack had hoped it wouldn't be to close for it to hit. A couple of people nearby had to throw themselves onto the poop deck in order not to obtain critical injuries. Avery turned her head imperceptibly to glance at the two people closest to the iceberg.

Avery, Cal, Jack, and Rose all crane their heads as the inescapable iceberg kept making progress down the side of the ship, an abominable cracking sound followed suit, disturbing the peaceful vibe Avery hardly felt as she remembered this afternoon.

The four ran up to the starboard railing to catch a better view of the iceberg that was slowly making it's way down the ship.

On the enclosed bridge, Murdoch has rung the watertight door alarm in attempt to trap the water in the lower levels of the ship.

By this point, only a few passengers are aware of the catastrophe afoot. A couple dressed in their outing attire crossed the corridor, getting a closer view of the steely iceberg.

In the Crow's Nest, Fleet and Lee had observed the collision from above.

"Oy, mate... that was a close shave," Fleet commented, relived the crash wasn't dire.

"Smell ice, can you? Bleedin' Christ!" Lee scolded and pushed Fleet back. A couple of children joined Avery, Cal, Jack, and Rose as they continue to examine the damage done to the ship but it appeared flawless. Avery allowed herself a breath of solace. She believed nothing could possibly hurt the Unsinkable Ship.

Fabrizio jumped off his bed and landed in a flood of water. He flicked the lights on after shouting in panick, waking his roommate. The two men sharing the room with Fabrizio followed him to the door and saw the main hallway filled with water that was easily to be walked through.

"C'mon, let's get the hell out of here!" Tommy shouted, his sweater and coat hanging from his arms. "C'mon, hurry up!" He ordered impatiently and Fabrizio and his roommates proceeded without hesitation.

The Titanic fully stopped, perched above the water. The noise of the engine long since ceased. Smoke expels from the funnels lackadaisically without the extra support from the engine.

Rats squeak and run, followed by the passengers of the steerage. They walk hurriedly. "If this is the direction the rats were runnin', it's good enough for me," Tommy said importantly as Fabrizio walked behind him, followed by many others.

Jack and Avery have departed Rose and Cal as they had some trouble and needed to sort things out quickly. Jack and Avery were climbing a set of stairs. Jack opened the white gate for Avery who could hear sounds of playing and jeering. Jack left the gate ajar as he spotted Captain Smith rush by with his stave, probably to examine the damage.

"This is bad," Jack said after overhearing the Captain getting up to date with the ship's current state as he and his crew descend the stairs.

"I'm gonna go... I'll be right back," Jack told Avery reassuringly and kissed her ardently before entering through the corridor and into the ship to seek out Rose. Avery extended her arm, attempting to prevent Jack from leaving her but he was already gone from her sight.

Avery walked further down the corridor and unexpectedly, a man threw a chunk of ice at her. She collapsed, surprised by the impingement she received and blacked out, escaping the brutal reality surrounding her.

Andrews unrolled a blueprint of the Titanic as the crew is determined to save the ship at all costs. They peer down at the detailed version of the ship, thinking.

"Water fourteen feet above the keel in ten minutes... in the fore peak... in all three holds... and in Boiler Room six," Andrews explained rapidly, breathlessly even as he placed his hand on each mentioned in the layout on the table in front of him.

"That's right, Sir," Murdoch confirmed nervously.
"When can we get underway, damnit?!" Ismay barked at the others. "There's five compartments," Andrews said shakily, glancing to the Captain.

"She can stay afloat with the first four compartments breached. But not five," he added. "Not five," he repeated suspense-fully.

"As she goes down by the head, the water will spill over the tops of the bulkheads... at E Deck from one to the next... back and back. There's no stopping it," Andrews continued, his hand demonstrating where the water will fill. Captain Smith gazed down at it intently then glanced up at Andrews, processing.

"The pumps. We open-" He began but was rudely interrupted by Andrews. "The pumps buy you time... but minutes only. From this moment, no matter what you do... the Titanic will flounder," he interjected, his breathing increasing.

Ismay's expression touched, he stared disbelievingly at Andrews, "but this ship can't sink!"

"She's made of iron Sir, I assure you she can. And she will. It is a mathematical certainty," Andrews informed Ismay, most serious. Silence between the men as they glanced at each other, unsure how to take this harsh news in.

"How much time?" Captain Smith asked sombrely. Andrews processed this question as he stared intensely at the blueprint. "An hour," he concluded after calculating and glanced up at the Captain. "Two at most," he supplied quietly. Murdoch swallowed as he stood there, merely listening.

"And how many aboard, Mr. Murdoch?" Captain Smith asked of him. "2,200 souls aboard, Sir,"

"I believe you may get your headlines, Mr. Ismay," Captain Smith said, turning to face him.

Out on the corridor, Avery had stirred as the funnels noisily produce unexplained steam. Avery's chest hurt painfully, the block of ice unable to melt as it lay beside her.

"Keep lowering!
Keep lowering!" She could hear from the Upper Deck. Where was Jack? Then she remembered. Bloody Hell. She cursed mentally, attempting to rise from the floor. After a few struggles, Avery managed to ascend from the floor, slipping a little as the ice caused the floor to be slippery.

She could hear noise from all around. She was frightened and hurt. There was no one when she emerged from her blackout.

"Where are all the passengers?" Avery heard from far. "They've all gone back inside! Too damn cold and noisy for them," she heard in-distinctively. Andrews turned around and glanced down at his pocket watch as the commotion continued.

Jack had been dragged to the Master At Arm's office for being accused of stealing Rose's necklace and for stealing a coat. Lovejoy and the Master At Arms were currently handcuffing Jack to a four inch water pipe as a crewman walked hurriedly in the office with Lovejoy. "You're wanted by the Purser, Sir. Urgently," he informed.

"Go on. I'll keep an eye on him," Lovejoy promised fully and retrieved a pearl handled Colt.45 automatic from his coat pocket.

"Alright," the Master At Arms agreed and continued locking the handcuffs. Jack glanced away as he finished the job and watched as he gave the keys to Lovejoy who took them gratefully. Having full control whether Jack stays locked or unlocked was very rewarding after all the drama caused by him. Lovejoy sat himself on the chair in front of the desk and Jack watched attentively. Lovejoy leaned back, relaxed.

Crowds of passengers were spread out on the Open Deck. Avery contemplated what she should do. Search for Jack, Rose and Cal, or her parents? Or should she save herself and hope for the best? Avery shuddered at the thought, surely she wasn't that shallow or was it the effect of the ice piece that collided into her? Her thoughts wandered as she stared at the passengers below, spotting the Captain among them.

"Ladies and gentlemen, your attention please!" Lightoller commanded so even Avery heard. "That's right, come towards me! Thank you. Good. For the time being, I should require only women and children-" Lightoller began and was overruled by shouting and complaints but Avery stayed silent, at a loss.

She decided to join the passengers downstairs, knowing Jack would find her and that's all she cared for at the moment.

"Right boys, like the Captain said, light and cheery for the passengers so there'll be no panic," the lead of the ship's band ordered and they begin to play a waltz to calm the passengers.
The iceberg has struck the Titanic, causing the crew to shut the engine off resulting in a shudder that hasn't gone unnoticed by the stumbling passengers who have no idea how bad the damage really is besides Avery and Jack. Jack has been arrested since Cal had framed him for stealing Avery's emerald necklace which Cal plans to give to Rose so she can add to her collection.  
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